Many parents stop using booster seats for their children too soon. California law requires children stay in a child or booster seat until they are 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds. However, at that size, kids are still too small for an adult safety belt.
Calgary residents can check out Kidseat for more information about recycling expired seats at various Round-Up Clinics or Inspection Clinics. They promise to recycle or reuse any part of the seat possible, including metal, plastic and any other usable parts. Kidseat charges a recycling fee of $7 per car sear and an additional $2 for the base. You must also remove all fabric, foam and webbing.
It's not against the law, but it's not a good idea to use an expired car seat. During my birthing classes a police officer explained car seat safety to us. He said the reason car seats have an expiration date (usually 6 years) is that the integrity of the plastic might be compromised after a few years.he reason why there are expiration dates is most likely driven by the manufacturers and retailers who need to make and sell more car seats. Otherwise, there would be reduced demand, and it would be hard to sell a car seat for $300 when someone could get a used one for $50.